Ooops I just broke the press handle

[TAXMAN6]

Iam looking for some insight into a good reloading press. I just
damaged my original press and looking to upgrade. I load 455 handguns, 250 savage, 6mm and 30-06. I was looking at the rcbs rock chucker supreme, single stage press. It looks good for rifles but is it over kill for hanguns ? 75% of my reloading is the handguns. I would appreciate some words of experience.

 

[bdm]

not over kill

you will be getting an easier press to operate so you arms will like it beter.i have had the rcbs jr then went to the rockcucker years ago you will like the change. what kind of press did you break? just nosey i guess bdm

 

[Dennis The B]

I take comfort in beefy reloading presses. I know that I'll never wear them out, and they make reloading much easier.

 

[Reloader]

Single stage: RCBS or Hornady's equal
progressive Dillon.

 

[novalty]

I am loading 45acp and soon to be 9mm on an older RCBS Rockchucker II very happy with it so far. Certainly has plenty of leverage. Another fine press is the Redding Big Boss II, has a better spent primer system, but I think the stroke is even longer than the Rockchucker. If you want probably the finest single-stage press I would direct you to the Forster Co-ax. If I hadn't found a steal on my RCII, I was going to get the Forster, huge amount of leverage, no shell-holder, nice primer collection system.

 

[TAXMAN6]

Thank you guys and perhaps gals for the info.

 

[fredj338]

The RCBS RCII is a great press. If you want to go cheaper, the Lee Classic Cast isn't a bad press. If you want volumn, the Lee Classic Cast Turret is a reasonabley good press that can get you 125rds/hr. If yo uneed more than that then it's time to start looking at progressives. The only serious choices start w/ Dillon, then the LNL form Hornady, RCBS & Lee last, really, really last.

 

[GF1]

Forster (old Bonanza design) Co Ax. I've got two, have used the original for 30 years. They are superb, best out there IMO.

 

[Paul5388]

I'm with Fred on this, the Lee Cast Iron Turret is cheaper than a RCBS single stage and will do more, including dropping the primer in the trash can! I think I read that the new Rock Chuckers have a hollow ram to allow the primers to fall into a tube, which is certainly an improvement over my almost 40 year old RC, but it still won't match the versatility of a turret.

 

[BoDog]

Presses

Ihave six, the RCBS is up anything you want, but if you want to load a lot of pistol but you can't go beat a Dillon. by the way I have loaded a lot of223,6.5--55, 308 and 30-06 mtch ammo
on the Dillon.

 

[S&W HE]

Forster (old Bonanza design) Co Ax. I've got two, have used the original for 30 years. They are superb, best out there IMO.

Ditto on the Forster Co-Ax Press. I never missed the green C-type press it replaced.

 

[RenoH414]

I use RCBS single stage and a Dillon 550 for volume work. They do everything I need. The Dillon is a little spendy cause I like a whole setup, powder dipenser and all, for every caliber but it is well worth the $.

 

[pacific keeper]

+1 on the Dillon and RCBS . They are both guaranteed for life and have good customer service .

 

[planojack]

I own 8 different presses and all do what needs to be done, but my all around favorite is the Forster Co-Ax. For anything other than progressive high production, it is great.

Jack

 

[Jeff423]

I own 8 different presses and all do what needs to be done, but my all around favorite is the Forster Co-Ax. For anything other than progressive high production, it is great.

Jack

Ditto on the Forster. Dillon for progressive.

Jeff

 

[Smith_68]

I replaced my herter Super O press with a RCBS after I couldn't find parts for it.Then I decided I needed something smaller so I could reload 45 acp while we were camping so I found a RCBS Partner Press. It's small and takes up very little room along with all the rest of my reloading equipment while in the camper.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Lee Classic Turret or Dillon BR 550.

 

[novalty]

Lee Classic Turret or Dillon BR 550.

Usually you don't see those 2 names together for a recommendation.

 

[Nemo288]

I have been using a Redding UltraMag for decades. Got it at a
going out of business sale back around 1980. It does loaf loading
handgun cartridges but should last forever. You can load .50 BMG
on it.
Might be the strongest conventional single stage out there.

---
Nemo

 

[Maximumbob54]

Lee Classic Turret or Dillon BR 550.

Usually you don't see those 2 names together for a recommendation.

People like to beat up on Lee stuff all the time. I have found most of it to be unjustified unless you either don't know what you are doing or are just rough handed. About the only way I see breaking a Classic Turret is short stroking the arm and coming down too fast on the plastic bit that make the auto index work. Other than that I think you will find many happy Classic Turret users out there. But I still have a lot of respect for Dillon's equipment despite the fact that I chose the Hornady option. But the fact that Dillon is smart enough to offer the BL 550 that you can slowly build into the RL 550 is genious. Had I know about that before I bought my Classic Turret then I might be singing a different tune and not bought my LNL AP. The biggest thing that holds the 550 back (IMHO) is the fact that it's a four station tool head. I like the option of having that fifth hole to add a powder check die or be able to crimp in another station after seating. I came really close to buying the RL 650 but the lower cost + 500 free bullets + the fact that caliber change can be done in less than a minute on the LNL AP is what made me stay with a red press.